Jackie Qualman

Jackie Qualman was Ophelia in the 1961 Phoenix Little Theatre production of “Hamlet.”

She was beautiful, she was gifted, she was versatile. In the late 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, Jackie Qualman went from playing the showgirl loved by a rodeo cowboy in William Inge’s Bus Stop to Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet without fluttering one of those long eyelashes which were stars in their own right.

And when she wasn’t emoting, Jackie often turned her hand to other tasks, including stage managing Phoenix Little Theatre’s production of The Caine Mutiny Court Martial.

PHOTOGRAPHS, REVIEWS & THE KITCHEN SINK

MAY 1968 “Bus Stop” Director: Trudy Hurley.

REVIEW by Nancy Bennett, The Arizona Republic, May 4, 1968

*****

SEPTEMBER 1963 “Counterpoint West” Arizona Repertory Theatre.

*****

APRIL 1963. “Antony and Cleopatra.” Playwright: William Shakespeare. Director: Robert Begam. Co-production between Arizona Repertory Theatre and Phoenix Little Theatre.

Jackie played Iras, the Queen’s handmaiden, in what many consider one of the best Shakespeare productions done at PLT.

Robert Begam was Tom, Fay Bullock was Amanda, Jackie Qualman was Laura and Hal Chidnoff was the Gentleman Caller is this well-received production of the Tennessee William’s classic. Bob’s wife, Helen, was assistant director for Joseph Caruso.